Gesture-based load control via wearable devices

ABSTRACT

A load control system may include control-target devices for controlling an amount of power provided to an electrical load. The control-target devices may be capable of controlling the amount of power provided to the electrical load based on control instructions. The control-target devices and/or the control-instructions may be determined based on a gesture performed by a user. The user may wear a wearable control device capable of measuring movements performed by the user and transmit digital messages that may be used to control an electrical load. The wearable control device may identify gestures performed by the user for controlling a control-target device and/or provide control instructions to the control-target device based on the identified gestures. A gesture may be associated with a scene that includes a configuration of one or more control devices in a load control system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/011,263, filed Jan. 29, 2016, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/110,277, filed Jan. 30, 2015, theentire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

A user environment, such as a residence or an office building forexample, may be configured using various types of load control systems.Load control systems may include lighting systems; motorized windowtreatment systems; heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC)systems; and/or the like. Most load control systems require the use ofvarious devices for performing load control. Such load control systemsmay be embodied in a two-part load control system that includes acontrol-target device for directly controlling the electrical load and acontrol-source device, such as a remote control, for indirectlycontrolling the electrical load by sending instructions to thecontrol-target device. Using such load control systems, a user mayindirectly control an electrical load using a control-source device.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a prior art load control environment102. As shown in FIG. 1, the load control environment 102 may includecontrol-source devices and control-target devices. The control-targetdevices may include a lighting control device 104 (e.g., a dimmerswitch, a ballast, or a light-emitting diode (LED) driver) for directlycontrolling an amount of power provided to lighting load 106, amotorized window treatment 112 for controlling the position of acovering material 114, a thermostat 120 for controlling an HVAC system,and a plug-in control device 122 (e.g., alternating current (AC) plug-incontrol device) for controlling the amount of power provided to a floorlamp 124, a table lamp, or the electrical load of another device that isplugged in to the plug-in control device 122. The control-source devicesin the load control environment 102 may include a remote control device116, a daylight sensor 108, an occupancy sensor 110, and/or a windowsensor 126.

The control-source devices may communicate control instructions forcontrolling an electrical load to a control-target device via digitalmessages that may be transmitted via a wired or wireless communication,e.g., via radio-frequency (RF) signals. The remote control device 116may transmit a digital message that indicates load control instructionsbased on the actuation of one or more buttons for controlling anelectrical load. The daylight sensor 108 may transmit a digital messagethat indicates load control instructions based on a level of daylightsensed in the load control environment 102. The occupancy sensor 110 maytransmit a digital message that indicates load control instructionsbased on an occupancy or vacancy condition sensed in the load controlenvironment 102. The window sensor 126 may transmit a digital messagethat indicates load control instructions based on a level of daylightintensity sensed from outside of the load control environment 102.

The control-source devices in the load control system depicted in FIG. 1may provide convenient ways for a user 118 to control an electricalload. These load control systems, however, require the user 118 to keeptrack of the location of one or more devices for controlling the system.A user's control may also be limited due to a predefined interface orthe limited instructions provided by the control device.

Gesture recognition is a developing technology, which is beingconsidered for use in load control systems to enable a convenient formof load control. Gesture recognition may be used to enable the user 118to send instructions to a control-target device without the use of aremote control or a similar control-source device. In order to performgesture-based load control, additional equipment, such as a camera forcapturing images of a user, may need to be installed in the load controlenvironment 102. There may be advantages to providing gesture controlfor an electrical load using other devices.

SUMMARY

A load control system may include one or more control devices forcontrolling an amount of power provided to an electrical load. A controldevice may be a central control device, a wearable control device,and/or a wireless communication device (e.g., a smartphone, tablet,laptop, etc.). A control device may be a control-source device and/or acontrol-target device. The control device may detect gestures performedby a user. For example, the control device may detect a gesture (e.g.,data indicative of a gesture) performed by a user wearing a wearablecontrol device for controlling a control-source and/or control-targetdevice. Data indicative of a gesture may include the name and/or a labelrepresenting the gesture, and/or the data indicative of the gesture mayinclude information (e.g., digital information) representing theposition, direction, orientation, and/or speed of the wearable controldevice while the user is performing the gesture.

The control-source devices may transmit digital messages to thecontrol-target devices for controlling the electrical load. As disclosedherein, control-target devices may be capable of controlling theelectrical load (e.g., controlling the amount of power provided to theelectrical load) based on control instructions received from a wearablecontrol device or other control device. The control instructions mayinclude load control instructions or another indication that causes thecontrol-target device to determine load control instructions forcontrolling the electrical load. The control instructions may bedetermined based on the data indicative of the gesture performed by theuser via the wearable control device.

The wearable control device may detect gestures performed by a user forcontrolling a control-target device. The wearable control device maydetermine control-target devices and/or control instructions based onthe gestures and may provide control instructions to identifiedcontrol-target devices based on the identified gestures. The wearablecontrol device may transmit digital messages that indicate the gesturesperformed by the user or other data indicative of the gesture to otherdevices for determining control-target devices and/or controlinstructions based on the gestures. For example, the wearable controldevice may transmit digital messages that indicate the gesturesperformed by the user to a wireless communication device and/or acentral control device.

The gestures may be identified based on a change in orientation of thewearable control device and/or a change in position of the wearablecontrol device. To determine control-target devices and/or controlinstructions, the gestures may be compared against gestures that arestored in memory and associated with control-target devices and/orcontrol instructions. A user may identify a control-target device to becontrolled by performing an associated gesture. For example, the usermay indicate a ballast to be controlled by pointing to the ballast orthe ballast's lighting fixture. The user may also, or alternatively,identify a control-target device by selecting the control-target deviceon a visual display of the wearable control device and/or a wirelesscommunication device (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, etc.).When the control-target device has been determined, the user mayidentify the control instructions for controlling the control-targetdevice by performing an associated gesture. For example, the user mayraise an arm to send instructions to the identified ballast to increasethe power provided to the lighting fixture.

A gesture may be associated with a scene (e.g., a preset) that includesa predefined configuration of one or more control devices in a loadcontrol system. To configure the control devices according to the scene,the user may perform the associated gesture. The gesture may indicatethe control devices for being controlled and/or the control instructionsfor being sent to each control device.

The user may engage the wearable control device, or another device inthe load control system, for enabling load control based on gesturesperformed by the user. The devices may be engaged by the user performingan engage gesture, actuating a button on the wearable control device, oractuating a button on the wireless communication device. The user maydisengage the wearable control device, or another device in the loadcontrol system, for disabling load control based on gestures performedby the user. The disengage gesture may cause the wearable control deviceto be unable to identify control instructions and/or control acontrol-target device until the user re-engages the wearable controldevice, or another device in the load control system, for transmittingcontrol instructions.

The user may program the wearable control device, a wirelesscommunication device, and/or a central control device to identify agesture. The user may perform a programming gesture that may beidentified by the wearable control device or the central control deviceto trigger a programming mode. When the programming mode is activated,the user may program the wearable control device, a wirelesscommunication device, and/or the central control device to identify agesture. The user may perform a gesture and associate that gesture witha control-target device and/or control instructions. The wearablecontrol device, the wireless communication device, and/or the centralcontrol device may store the association such that the gesture may beidentified for load control or control of the wearable control device.

The central control device may learn to automate control of the loadcontrol system based on repeated gestures performed by the user in alocation. The central control device may store gestures performed by auser that cause a change in the status of an electrical load or acontrol-target device. When the central control device identifies thatthe user has performed the gesture in the same location a predeterminednumber of times (e.g., at least three times) for changing the status ofthe electrical load or the control-target device, the central controldevice may automate the control of the when the user is within thelocation. The central control device may receive feedback of whether theuser likes the automated control and may modify the automated controlbased on the feedback.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an example prior art environment for controlling anelectrical load.

FIG. 2 depicts an example environment for controlling devices usinggesture control.

FIG. 3 is a simplified flow diagram depicting an example method forperforming gesture-based control of one or more control-target devices.

FIG. 4 is a simplified flow diagram depicting another example method forperforming gesture-based control of one or more control-target devices.

FIGS. 5A-5E depict example gestures that may be performed forcontrolling control-target devices.

FIG. 6 is a simplified flow diagram depicting an example method forassociating a gesture with control-target devices and/or controlinstructions.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram depicting an example of a wearable controldevice.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram depicting an example of a central controldevice.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram depicting an example of a control-targetdevice.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram depicting an example of a wirelesscommunication device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 2 depicts an example load control environment 202 (e.g., a room inan office building or residence) for controlling devices using wearablecontrol devices. As shown in FIG. 2, the load control environment 202may be installed with one or more control devices for controlling theelectrical loads within the load control environment 202 to control oneor more characteristics of the load control environment (e.g., theamount of artificial and/or natural daylight in the room, thetemperature in the room, the status of an electrical device, etc.). Thecontrol device may detect gestures performed by a user 222. For example,the control device may detect a gesture (e.g., data indicative of agesture) performed by the user 222 wearing a wearable control device 228for controlling a control-target device. The data indicative of thegesture may include the name and/or a label representing the gesture,and/or the data indicative of the gesture may include information (e.g.,digital information) representing the position, direction, orientation,and/or speed of the wearable control device 228 while the user 222 isperforming the gesture.

Control devices may be implemented to enable control of an electricalload based on gestures performed by a user. For example, control devicesmay be implemented to enable control of an electrical load based on dataindicative of gestures performed by a user. Each control device may be acontrol-source device capable of transmitting digital messages, e.g.,wirelessly or via a wired communication, for controlling the amount ofpower provided to an electrical load. A control device may be acontrol-target device capable of receiving the digital messages anddirectly controlling the electrical load (e.g., directly controlling anamount of power provided to the electrical load) based on theinformation in the digital messages. A control device may be acontrol-source device and a control-target device. Example controldevices may include a lighting control device 204 (e.g., a dimmerswitch, a switching device, a ballast, or an LED driver) for controllingthe amount of power provided to a lamp 206; a motorized window treatment216 for controlling the position of a covering material 218 via anelectrical motor; a temperature control device 220 (e.g., thermostat)for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC)system; and/or a plug-in control device 224 for controlling the amountof power provided to an electrical load connected to the plug-in controldevice 224 (e.g., a floor lamp 226 or a table lamp).

Each of the control devices may control one or more characteristics ofthe load control environment 202 (e.g., by controlling the amount ofpower provided to an electrical load) based on received digitalmessages. A wearable control device 228 may be a control device capableof transmitting digital messages for controlling one or morecharacteristics of the load control environment 202. The wearablecontrol device 228 may be a device capable of being worn by the user 222and may act as a control-source device for communicating digitalmessages for controlling one or more electrical loads of the loadcontrol environment 202. The wearable control device 228 may detect oneor more gestures performed by the user for controlling one or moreelectrical loads. Gestures may be identified measurements performed bythe wearable control device 228 when the user 222 performs movements. Asshown in FIG. 2, the wearable control device 228 may be an armband(e.g., a smart watch, such as a SAMSUNG® GALAXY GEAR™ watch or an APPLE®watch, a FITBIT® armband, or other device capable of being worn on thearm of the user 222). In other examples (not shown in FIG. 2), thewearable control device 228 may include a ring, glasses (e.g., GOOGLE®GLASS™), a headset (e.g., BLUETOOTH® headset), clothing (e.g., shirts,gloves, etc.), or other wearable control device capable of detectinggestures performed by the user 222.

The wearable control device 228 may detect gestures performed by theuser 222 and may transmit digital messages to one or more controldevices (e.g., central control devices, wearable control devices,wireless communication devices, control-source devices, and/orcontrol-target devices). The wearable control device 228 may detect thegestures performed by the user 222 and the gestures may be used todetermine one or more control-target devices and/or load controlinstructions for controlling an electrical load via the one or morecontrol-target devices. For example, the control-target devices and/orload control instructions may be determined at the wearable controldevice 228 based on the gesture performed by the user 222. In anotherexample, the wearable control device 228 may transmit a digital messagethat indicates the gesture performed by the user, which may be used byanother device to determine the control-target devices and/or loadcontrol instructions. The control-target devices and/or load controlinstructions may be included in the digital messages transmitteddirectly from the wearable control device 228 to the control-targetdevices. The wearable control device 228 may communicate with thecontrol-target devices via wired or wireless communications, e.g., viaradio-frequency (RF) signals.

The wearable control device 228 may send digital messages to and/orreceive digital messages from one or more intermediate devices capableof communicating with the wearable control device 228 and other controldevices in the load control environment 202. For example, the wearablecontrol device 228 may communicate with a central control device 230and/or a wireless communication device 232 (e.g., a cellular phone, atablet, a laptop, or other computing device capable of performingcommunications on a wireless network). The central control device 230and/or a wireless communication device 232 may be control devicescapable of receiving digital messages from the wearable control device228 and/or transmitting digital messages to one or more control-targetdevices for controlling an electrical load. The central control device230 may be a local computing device located in the load controlenvironment or a remote computing device. The central control device 230and the wireless communication device 232 may communicate with oneanother (e.g., via a wireless communication network, such as a cellularnetwork, WI-FI® network, etc.). For example, the wearable control device228 may communicate digital messages to the central control device 230via the wireless communication device 232. The wearable control device228 may include one or more communication circuits capable ofcommunicating with the central control device 230 and/or the wirelesscommunication device 232. The communication circuits may be capable ofcommunicating via one or more communication protocols. For example thecommunication circuits may be capable of communicating with the centralcontrol device 230 and/or the wireless communication device 232 viawireless signals (e.g., RF signals), such as WI-FI® signals; WIMAX®signals; BLUETOOTH® signals; near field communication (NFC) signals;proprietary communication signals, such as CLEAR CONNECT™; ZIGBEE®signals, Z-WAVE signals, and/or the like. Each communication circuit maybe capable of communicating on different protocols and/or frequencies.For example, different communication circuits may enable the wirelesscommunication device 232 to communicate with the wearable control device228 via one protocol or frequency, and with the central control device230 or control-target devices via another protocol or frequency.

A control device may be a central control device, such as centralcontrol device 230. The central control device 230 may be configured tomonitor the status of electrical loads and/or control-target devices.The central control device 230 may receive digital messages fromcontrol-target devices capable of two-way communication. Thecommunications may be transmitted from the control-target devices viawired and/or wireless signals. In order to perform wirelesscommunications, the control-target devices may include a communicationcircuit (e.g., transmitter or transceiver) capable of performing RFcommunications.

The digital messages may also be sent to the central control device 230in response to a status request message from the central control device230, a status request message from the wireless communication device 232or the wearable control device 228, a change in the status of thecontrol-target device (e.g., turning on a lamp 206, 226, changing thedimming intensity of the lamp 206, 226, changing the level of thecovering material 218, changing the temperature on the temperaturecontrol device 220), based on the location of the user 222 (e.g., whenthe user 222 enters the load control environment 202, when the user 222comes within a predefined distance of a control-target device, etc.)and/or after a predetermined period of time (e.g., an hour, a day, etc.)has elapsed. The status request messages may be triggered at the centralcontrol device 230 based on a digital message received from the wirelesscommunication device 232 or the wearable control device 228. The digitalmessages that report the status of the control-target devices mayindicate whether power is being provided to an electrical load (e.g.,lamps 206, 226) and/or the current status of the electrical load (e.g.,whether the lamps 206, 226 is on or off, the dimming intensity of thelamp 206, 226, the position of the covering material 218, thetemperature at which the HVAC system is being controlled by thetemperature control device 220, etc.).

The wearable control device 228 may perform an association procedurewith other devices in the load control system (e.g., control devices,the central control device 230, the wireless communication device 232,etc.). The wearable control device 228 may enter an association mode fortransmitting digital messages for associating with one or more otherdevices. The wearable control device 228 may enter the association modeupon actuation of one or more buttons on the wearable control device 228and/or performance of an association gesture. The other devices in theload control system (e.g., control devices, the central control device230, the wireless communication device 232, etc.) may also enter anassociation mode for being associated with the wearable control device228 or otherwise recognize association messages transmitted from thewearable control device 228. The other devices in the load controlsystem may enter an association mode upon a user actuation of one ormore buttons on the devices. During the association procedure, thewearable control device 228 may transmit digital messages that include aunique identifier (e.g., a serial number) of the wearable control device228. The digital messages may be received by other devices in the loadcontrol system and the devices may store the unique identifier of thewearable control device 228, such that subsequent digital messagesreceived from the wearable control device 228 may be identified.

The wearable control device 228 may transmit digital messages thatinclude the unique identifier of the wearable control device (e.g., aserial number) for controlling an electrical load. The devices that areassociated with the wearable control device 228 may respond to thedigital messages when they identify the serial number of the wearablecontrol device 228. For example, a control-target device may executeload control instructions indicated in a digital message from thewearable control device 228 to control an electrical load. The wearablecontrol device 228 may transmit digital messages via broadcast messagesor directly to control-target devices.

The digital messages from the wearable control device 228 may includeinformation that may identify one or more control-target devices. Forexample, the digital messages from the wearable control device 228 mayinclude a unique identifier of one or more control-target devices, atype of control-target device (e.g., lighting control devices, motorizedwindow treatments, etc.), and/or a zone or location of thecontrol-target devices. The wireless communication device 232 and/or thecentral control device 230 may receive the digital messages from thewearable control device 228 and may communicate digital messages to theidentified control-target devices for controlling an electrical load.The wireless communication device 232 and/or the central control device230 may be used to determine the control-target devices and/or the loadcontrol instructions for controlling the electrical loads based on thegestures indicated by the wearable control device 228. The wirelesscommunication device 232 and/or the central control device 230 maydetermine the load control instructions locally or may forward theindicated gestures to a remote computing device that may determine andreturn the control-target devices and/or the load control instructionsfor being transmitted to the control-target devices.

The gesture performed by the user 222 may be identified by the wearablecontrol device 228 and may be compared (e.g., at the wearable controldevice 228, the wireless communication device 232, the central controldevice 230, or another device) to movements associated with one or moreload control instructions and/or control-target devices. The associationof gestures to the load control instructions and/or control-targetdevices may be stored in a datastore (e.g., database). The datastore maybe stored in memory at the wearable control device 228, the wirelesscommunication device 232, and/or the central control device 230.

The wearable control device 228 may include a gyroscope and/or anaccelerometer for identifying the gestures performed by the user 222.The gyroscope may identify an orientation of the wearable control device228. The accelerometer may identify an acceleration of the wearablecontrol device 228. The accelerometer may be used to detect magnitudeand direction of the acceleration of the wearable control device 228,such as in the form of a vector, an orientation of the wearable controldevice 228, and/or vibrations of the wearable control device 228.

The wearable control device 228 may be an armband, ring, glasses, aheadset, clothing (e.g., shirts, gloves, etc.), or other wearablecontrol device capable of detecting gestures performed by the user 222.The wearable control device 228 may detect a change in orientation,direction, and/or speed. The wearable control device 228 may includemultiple sensors for detecting gestures performed by a user. Forexample, the wearable control device 228 may be a shirt or gloves thatmay include a sensor for detecting different gestures performed bydifferent arms, hands, and/or fingers of the user 222.

The orientation of the wearable control device 228 may be used toidentify a control-target device and/or load control instructions forcontrolling an electrical load via the control-target device. Thewearable control device 228 may be an armband capable of detecting theuser 222 rotating an arm or wrist. For example, the user 222 may rotatean arm or wrist to mimic the movement of turning a knob (e.g., adoorknob) or the movement of a lighting control device 204 (e.g., adimmer switch). The wearable control device 228 may detect the rotationof the arm of the user 222 or the wrist of the user 222 and/or an amountof the rotation, which may indicate an amount of change to a dimminglevel of a lighting load. The wearable control device 228 may sensesudden movements by the user 222, such as a twitch left or right, tocontrol a control-target device. The wearable control device 228 maydetect when the user 222 changes the orientation of the wearable controldevice 228 by a predetermined distance. For example, the wearablecontrol device may identify when the user 222 rotates the wearablecontrol device 228 a predetermined distance. A change in the orientationof the wearable control device 228 by a predetermined distance mayidentify a control-target device and/or load control instructions. Thewearable control device 228 may detect when the user 222 changes theorientation of the wearable control device 228 at a predetermined speed.For example, the wearable control device may identify when the user 222rotates the wearable control device 228 a predetermined speed. A changein the orientation of the wearable control device 228 at a predeterminedspeed may identify a control-target device and/or load controlinstructions. The orientation of the wearable control device 228 may bechanged a number of times to identify different control-target devicesand/or control instructions.

The orientation of the wearable control device 228 may be used tocontrol an intensity (e.g., a dimming intensity) of the lamps 206, 226,a position of the covering material 218, and/or a temperature of theload control environment (e.g., as measured by the temperature controldevice 220). The orientation of the wearable control device 228 may beused to turn an electrical load on or off. The orientation of thewearable control device 228 may be changed a number of times to identifydifferent zones and/or scenes (e.g., presets) for setting controldevices to a predetermined level. A preset may be a predefined group ofone or more load control devices (e.g., control-target devices) andcontrol instructions that identify a predetermined level for theelectrical load (e.g., dimming level for lighting load, shade positionfor electrical shades, set point temperature for HVAC system, etc.). Ascene may be a predefined configuration of one or more control devicesin the load control environment 202 (e.g., a movie scene, a bedtimescene, a home or away scene, etc.). For example, in a movie scene or abedtime scene, the covering material 218 may be closed and/or theintensities of the lamps 206, 226 may be adjusted to a low dimming level(e.g., 5%) or turned off. In the bedtime scene, the temperature controldevice 220 may also increase or decrease the temperature to apredetermined level (e.g., depending on the time of year). An away scenemay control one or more control devices for when the user is away fromthe load control environment. For example, in the away scene, the lamps206, 226 may be turned off and the temperature of the temperaturecontrol device 220 may be increased or decreased (e.g., depending on thetime of year). A home scene may control one or more control devices forwhen the user is occupying the load control environment. For example, inthe home scene, the lamps 206, 226 may be turned on and the temperatureof the temperature control device 220 may be increased or decreased(e.g., depending on the time of year). The user 222 may shake thewearable control device 228 to reset the orientation of the wearablecontrol device or initialize the wearable control device 228 (e.g., setthe orientation and/or other parameters for measuring gestures to zero).

The scene configuration may be preconfigured based on user input. One ormore control devices may be associated with each scene and may be sentcontrol instructions for controlling an electrical load according to apredetermined configuration. For an away scene, for example, theintensities of the lamps 206, 226 may be dimmed to a predetermined levelor the lamps 206, 226 may be turned off, the motorized window treatment216 may adjust the position of the covering material 218, and/or thetemperature of the temperature control device 220 may be increased(e.g., in the summer) or decreased (e.g., in the winter) to reduce powerconsumption while the user is away. For example, the motorized windowtreatment 216 may lower the position of the covering material 218 aspart of the away scene while the user is away.

The orientation of the wearable control device 228 may be used todetermine an angle of the arm of the user 222 when raised or lowered(e.g., from an initial starting point of zero). The different angles atwhich the user 222 positions an arm may indicate differentcontrol-target devices and/or control instructions. For example, theuser 222 may position an arm at different angles to identify differentzones or scenes for performing load control. The distance the user 222raises or lowers an arm may also, or alternatively, be used to indicatedifferent control-target devices and/or control instructions.

If the wearable control device 228 is a ring, the ring may determine aposition of a finger of the user 222. For example, the position of thethumb of the user may be used to indicate different control-targetdevices and/or control instructions. The position of the thumb relativeto other fingers on the hand of the user 222 may be identified. Thedifferent positions of the user's finger may indicate different scenes(e.g., presets) for controlling one or more control-target devices. Theorientation of the ring may also be used to control an electrical load.For example, a dimming level for the lamp 206, 226 or a level of thecovering material 218 for the motorized window treatment 216 may beadjusted by changing the orientation of the ring (e.g., rotating thering on the finger of the user 222).

The user 222 may identify the control-target device to which the loadcontrol instructions may be sent by performing a gesture or otherwiseidentifying the control-target device. For example, the user 222 mayidentify a control-target device by pointing in the direction of thecontrol-target device (e.g., using an armband, shirt, ring, or otherwearable device capable if identifying a vector pointing in thedirection of a control device) or facing the control-target device(e.g., using an armband, shirt, glasses, or other wearable devicecapable if identifying a direction the user 222 is facing). The wearablecontrol device 228 may identify a vector in the direction of acontrol-target device and the direction of the vector may be compared(e.g., at the wearable control device 228, the wireless communicationdevice 232, the central control device 230, or another computing device)against a mapping of the load control environment 202 or the knownlocation of a control-target device to identify one or morecontrol-target devices. In another example, each control-target device,or type of control-target devices for executing load controlinstructions, may be identified with a specific gesture performed by theuser 222. The wearable control device 228 may identify the gestureperformed by the user and may determine the control-target device, orcommunicate the gesture to another device (e.g., the wirelesscommunication device 232 or the central control device 230) fordetermining the control-target device based on the gesture.

The control-target devices may be identified by zone. A user may performa gesture that identifies a zone that includes one or morecontrol-target devices. The wearable control device 228 may identify avector in the direction of a zone and the direction of the vector may becompared (e.g., at the wearable control device 228, the wirelesscommunication device 232, the central control device 230, or anothercomputing device) against a mapping of the load control environment 202or the known location of a zone to identify one or more control-targetdevices in the zone.

The control-target device may be identified using another device. Forexample, the user 222 may select one or more control-target devices orzones on the wireless communication device 232. The user 222 may performa gesture for controlling the identified control-target device. Forexample, the user 222 may select the lamp 206 and/or lighting controldevice 204 on the wireless communication device 232 and may raise thearm on which the wearable control device 228 is being worn to increasethe intensity of the lamp 206.

The user 222 may perform a gesture to identify the control-target devicethat the user 222 would like to control and perform another gesture tosend load control instructions for controlling the identifiedcontrol-target device. For example, the user 222 may point an arm in thedirection of the lighting control device 204 and/or the lamp 206 toindicate the lighting control device 204 as the control-target devicethat the user 222 would like to control and the user 222 may raise anarm to increase the intensity of the lamp 206. The intensity of the lamp206 may be increased by a predetermined amount, such as twenty percent,for each time the user 222 raises the arm or the amount of increase maycorrespond to the distance the user 222's arm travels from a startingpoint to an ending point. In another example, the dimming intensity maybe increased for each period of time, e.g., each second, the user 222holds the gesture.

The gesture performed by the user may identify the control-targetdevices that the user 222 would like to control and indicate the controlinstructions to be sent to the control-target devices. For example, thewearable control device 228 may identify a gesture performed by the user222 that identifies the lighting control device 204, the plug-in controldevice 224, and the motorized window treatment 216 and send controlinstructions to each of the control-target devices 204, 224, 216 forcontrolling the corresponding electrical load. The user 222 may lower anarm to instruct the lighting control device 204 to decrease theintensity of the lamp 206, instruct the plug-in control device 224 todecrease the intensity of the floor lamp 226, and/or instruct themotorized window treatment 216 to lower the covering material 218. Thegesture may correspond to a scene that causes each of the control-targetdevices 204, 224, 246 to be set to a predetermined level. In anotherexample, the dimming level of the lighting control device 204 and theplug-in control device 224 may be decreased by a predetermined amount(e.g., twenty percent), and the position of the covering material 218may be lowered by a predetermined amount (e.g., twenty percent), whenthe user 222 lowers the arm. The amount of change may alternativelycorrespond to the distance the arm of the user 222 travels from astarting point to an ending point. In another example, the intensity ofthe lamp 206, 226 may be decreased and the position of the coveringmaterial 218 may be lowered for each period of time, e.g., each second,the user 222 holds the gesture.

The wearable control device 228 may sense one or more parameters (e.g.,biometric data) that define the physical condition (e.g., behavior,movement, comfort, and/or health) of the user 222. For example, thewearable control device 228 may detect the heart rate of the user 222.The heart rate information of the user 222 may be detected in thefingers (e.g., using sensors in a ring or gloves) or the wrist (e.g.,using sensors in an armband or shirt) of the user 222. The heart rateinformation of the user 222 may be used to perform load control in theload control environment 202. For example, the heart rate informationmay be used to automatically sense when user is sleeping and may controlthe electrical load of one or more control-target devices (e.g., settinga bedtime scene to turn off the lamp 206, 226, increase or decrease thetemperature on the temperature control device 220, lower the coveringmaterial 218, turn off a television that may be plugged in to theplug-in control device 224, etc.). The heart rate information may beused to automatically sense when user wakes up, sits up in a bed 208, orgets out of the bed 208 and may control the electrical load of one ormore control-target devices (e.g., setting a wakeup scene to turn on thelamp 206, 226 and set to a predetermined dimming level, increase ordecrease the temperature on the temperature control device 220, raisethe covering material 218 to a predetermined level, etc.). When theheart rate information indicates that the user 222 is below apredetermined threshold and/or the time of day is after a predeterminedtime, the user 222 may automatically be determined to be asleep. Whenthe heart rate information indicates that the user 222 is above apredetermined threshold and/or the time of day is after a predeterminedtime, the user 222 may automatically be determined to be awake.

The predetermined heart rate threshold may be different among differentusers. The predetermined hear rate threshold for determining whether theuser 222 is asleep may be based on the user 222's average heart rateduring daytime hours (e.g., a predetermined number of daytime hours). Asthe heart rate of the user 222 may rise above the predetermined heartrate threshold while the user is asleep, the user 222 may be assumed tobe asleep between predetermined hours once the heart rate of the user222 falls below the predetermined threshold. For example, the user 222may be determined (e.g., by the wireless communication device 232, thesystem control device 230, or other device) to be asleep when the heartrate of the user 222 drops below a predetermined threshold after 9:00 PMand the user 222 may be determined (e.g., by the wireless communicationdevice 232, the central control device 230, or other device) to beasleep until the heart rate of the user 222 rises above a predeterminedthreshold after 6:00 AM.

One or more control devices may be used to wake up the user 222 at apredetermined time. For example, a wakeup scene may be used to wake upthe user 222 at a predetermined time in the morning. The wakeup scenemay turn on the lamp 206, 226 to a predetermined dimming intensityand/or raise the covering material 218 to a predetermined level. Thewakeup scene may also, or alternatively, turn on a television or musicto a predetermined volume level (e.g., using the plug-in control device224 or the wireless communication device 232).

The wearable control device 228 may identify the user 222. For example,the unique identifier (e.g., serial number) of the wearable controldevice 228 may be associated with one or more users and the associationmay be stored (e.g., in a database) at the control devices, the wirelesscommunication device 232, and/or the central control device 230. Whenthe wearable control device 228 is shared by multiple users, thewearable control device 228 may transmit a different user identifier foreach user. The wearable control device 228 may identify the user 222based on a user identification action, such as an actuation of one ormore buttons on the wearable control device 228 and/or one or moregestures performed by the user 222. The wearable control device may alsoinclude a biometric sensor (e.g., fingerprint scanner, eye scanner,etc.) for identifying the user 222. After the user 222 is identified,the wearable control device 228 may transmit digital messages that alsoidentify the user 222.

The unique identifier transmitted by the wearable control device 228 maybe recognized (e.g., by the central control device 230) for enablingcontrol of various control devices in the load control environment 202.The unique identifier may be used to access a gesture datastore (e.g.,database) associated with the unique identifier. The gesture datastoremay include an indication of identified gestures and associatedcontrol-target devices and/or control instructions. The wearable controldevice 228 may send the unique identifier to the central control device230 and the central control device 230 may permit access to the gesturedatastore (e.g., stored locally or at a remote location) for control ofthe electrical loads in the load control environment 202. The useridentifier may be recognized (e.g., by other central control devices) atother locations (e.g., at a residence, office, hotel, other rooms orfloors in the same building, etc.) for enabling control of variouscontrol devices at different locations by the user 222 using the samegestures or other commands used in the load control environment 202. Theuser 222 may use the same gestures or other commands to control the sametypes of control devices. For example, the user 222 may use the samegestures to control lighting control devices in different locations.

The wearable control device 228 may receive and identify audio commandsfor controlling control-target devices. A microphone in the wearablecontrol device 228 may record audio or capture a live audio stream. Theaudio commands may also be received by another device, such as thewireless communication device 232, for example. The audio commands maybe paired with gestures to determine a control device and/or controlinstructions for controlling the control device. For example, the user222 may point to the lighting control device 204 or the lamp 206 and say“turn on” to command the lighting control device 204 to turn on the lamp206. The audio commands may also be used to identify the device. Theuser 222 may say “kitchen lights” to identify the lamps in the kitchenand may raise an arm to increase the dimming level of the identifiedkitchen lamps. The voice command may identify a location, zone, and/orlighting load for being controlled by the wearable control device 228.The audio commands may also be stored in the gesture datastore and maybe accessed at different locations.

The user 222 may engage the wearable control device 228 for identifyingcommands for transmitting digital messages to control an electricalload. The wearable control device 228 may be engaged by actuating abutton on the wearable control device, actuating a button on thewireless communication device 232, reciting a voice command that isrecognizable to the wearable control device 228, and/or performing anengage gesture. The user 222 may engage the wearable control device 228by shaking the wearable control device or performing another distinctivemovement that is recognizable by the wearable control device 228. Theengaged wearable control device 228 may enter a mode for identifyinggestures performed by the user 222 for controlling an electrical load.

The wearable control device 228 may indicate to the user 222 that thewearable control device 228 is engaged. For example, the wearablecontrol device 228 may flash an indicator light after the wearablecontrol device 228 is engaged. The wearable control device 228 mayindicate that it is engaged by sending instructions to a control device.For example, the wearable control device 228 may instruct the lightingcontrol device 204 to flash the lamp 206, instruct the motorized windowtreatment 216 to adjust the covering material 218 (e.g., jog thecovering material 218 up or down by a predetermined amount, wiggle thecovering material 218, or tilt slats of the covering material 218),and/or instruct the plug-in control device 224 to flash the floor lamp226 or turn on or off another device that is plugged in to the plug-incontrol device 224.

The engaged wearable control device 228 may identify one or moregestures performed by the user 222. The period of time for which thewearable control device 228 is engaged may be a pre-determined period oftime or until the user 222 disengages the wearable control device 228.The user 222 may re-engage the wearable control device 228 after eachidentified gesture or the user 222 may perform consecutive gestures fora period of time without re-engaging the wearable control device 228.The user 222 may disengage the wearable control device 228 by performinga disengage gesture that may cause the wearable control device 228 to beunable to control a control device until the user 222 re-engages thewearable control device 228.

The wearable control device 228 may be used to identify the location(e.g., room, floor, building, or other space) of the user 222. Thewearable control device 228 may include a communication circuit capableof communicating via NFC signals. The load control environment 202 mayinclude an NFC device 210 capable of detecting the NFC signalstransmitted by the wearable control device 228. For example, the NFCdevice 210 may comprise a passive NFC tag, such as a radio-frequencyidentification (RFID) tag, or may comprise an active NFC device (e.g.,an NFC sensor). The user 222 may move the wearable control device 228 inclose proximity to the NFC device 210, for example, by touching thewearable control device 228 to the NFC device 210 or by waving thewearable control device 228 close to the NFC device 210, to enable loadcontrol in the load control environment 202 using the wearable controldevice 228. The wearable control device 228 may receive a uniqueidentifier from the NFC device 210, and may transmit the uniqueidentifier to the central control device 230 to indicate that the user222 is located in the load control environment 202. In addition, the NFCdevice 210 may receive a unique identifier from the wearable controldevice 228 and may communicate the unique identifier to the centralcontrol device 230 to indicate that the user 222 is located in the loadcontrol environment 202. The central control device 230 may listen fordigital messages from the wearable control device 228 upon receiving theunique identifier.

The location of the user 222 may be paired with a gesture to performload control. For example, the user 222 may wave the wearable controldevice 228 in an upward direction in front of the NFC device 210 to turnon or increase the dimming intensity of the lamps 206, 226 in the loadcontrol environment 202. The user 222 may wave the wearable controldevice 228 in an upward direction to also, or alternatively, increasethe level of the covering material 218 and/or increase the temperatureof the temperature control device 220. The user 222 may wave thewearable control device 228 in a downward direction in front of the NFCdevice 210 to turn off or decrease the dimming intensity of the lightingloads 206, 226, decrease the level of the covering material 218, and/ordecrease the temperature of the temperature control device 220. The user222 may wave the wearable control device 228 in a certain direction infront of the NFC sensor to engage a scene (e.g., movie scene, bedtimescene, etc.) in the load control environment.

The control-target devices of the load control environment 202 mayinclude NFC communication circuits capable of detecting the NFC signalstransmitted by the wearable control device 228. The wearable controldevice 228 may touch or be waved in front of a control-target device toactivate the control-target device for being controlled by the wearablecontrol device 228. Within a period of time from the activation of thecontrol-target device, the user 222 may perform a recognized gesture forcontrolling the activated control-target device. The wearable controldevice 228 touching or being waved in front of a control-target devicemay also be used to identify the location of the user within the loadcontrol environment 202. The user 222 may use the wearable controldevice 228 to control devices within a zone or predetermined distancefrom the NFC device 210 (or control-target device having an NFCcommunication circuit) that was activated by the user 222.

The wearable control device 228 may have a global positioning system(GPS) circuit and may thus be GPS enabled. The location of the wearablecontrol device 228 may be determined from the GPS circuit. The locationdetermined by the GPS circuit of the wearable control device 228 mayindicate the location of the user 222. The location determined by theGPS circuit of the wearable control device 228 may be communicated tothe wireless communication device 232 and/or the central control device230. When the user 222 is determined (e.g., by the wearable controldevice 228, the wireless communication device 232, and/or the centralcontrol device 230) to be within a predetermined location (e.g., room,portion of a room, floor, portion of a floor, group of floors, building,etc.), the wearable control device 228 may be used to transmit controlinstructions to control-target devices in the location. The locationdetermined by the GPS circuit of the wearable control device 228 mayalso, or alternatively, be used to determine whether the user 222 iswithin a predefined distance of one or more control-target devices. Thepredetermined location may be a distance (e.g., three feet) from thecontrol-target device. When the user 222 is determined (e.g., by thewearable control device 228, the wireless communication device 232,and/or the central control device 230) to be within the predetermineddistance of a control-target device, or an area comprising an electricalload controlled by the control-target device, the wearable controldevice 228 may be used to transmit control instructions to thecontrol-target device. For example, when the user 222 is approaching theload control environment 202 (e.g., which may be a home, business, orspace within the home or business, such as a room or portion of a roomwithin the home or business), and the user 222 reaches a predetermineddistance from the load control environment 202, one or morecontrol-target devices may be controlled or set to a preconfiguredsetting or scene (e.g., preset). Similarly, when the user 222 is leavingthe load control environment 202, and the user 222 reaches apredetermined distance from the load control environment 202, one ormore control-target devices may be controlled or set to a preconfiguredsetting or scene (e.g., preset).

The wearable control device 228 may associate (e.g., pair) with a device(e.g., the wireless communication device 232, such as a smartphone,tablet, laptop, etc.). For example, the wearable control device 228 maypair with a wireless communication device 232 positioned on, or near,the user 222. The wearable control device 228 may include acommunication circuit capable of pairing with the wireless communicationdevice 232 and/or wirelessly communicating with the wirelesscommunication device 232. The wearable control device 228 may pair witha wireless communication device 232 for determining the location of theuser 222. The wireless communication device 232 may provide a referencepoint. For example, the wireless communication device 232 may provide areference point to assist in determining the location and/or movement ofthe wearable control device 228.

The wireless communication device 232 may be GPS enabled and may be usedto indicate the location of the user 222 and/or the location of thewearable control device 228 (e.g., the location of the wearable controldevice 228 with respect to the wireless communication device 232). Forexample, the direction the user 222 is moving and/or the direction thewearable control device 228 is moving may be determined based on thewireless communication device 232. The wireless communication device 232and/or the wearable control device 228 may measure a signal strengthreceived (e.g., a received signal strength indicator (RSSI)) and/or asignal strength transmitted from one device and another device. Forexample, the wearable control device 228 may determine that it is beingmoved away from and/or moved toward the wireless communication device232 because a signal (e.g., an NFC signal, BLUETOOTH signal, WI-FI®signal, cellular signal, etc.) between the wearable control device 228and wireless communication device 232 becomes less strong and/orstronger, respectively. The direction the wireless communication device232 is moving may be determined based on the direction of the GPScoordinates of the wireless communication device 232 and/or the strengthof a wireless communication signal (e.g., an NFC signal, BLUETOOTHsignal, WI-FI® signal, cellular signal, etc.) of the wirelesscommunication device 232.

The central control device 230 may learn from gestures performed by theuser 222 and determine the location of the user 222 to perform controlof various control-target devices in the user's location. The centralcontrol device 230 may record the gestures of the user 222 and anidentified location of the gesture in the gesture datastore. Thewearable control device 228 and/or the central control device 230 mayenter a programming mode for recording the gestures performed by theuser 222. The programming mode may be entered by performing aprogramming gesture using the wearable control device 228, actuating oneor more buttons on the wearable control device 228, and/or actuating oneor more buttons on the wireless communication device 232.

The user 222 may define the control parameters for a learned gesture.The control parameters may be entered via the wireless communicationdevice 232 and/or the wearable control device 228. For example, the user222 may define the boundaries of the location in which the gesture maybe applied, the control-target devices to which the gesture isassociated, and/or the control instructions for being sent to thecontrol-target devices. While the control parameters may be entered bythe user 222 via the wireless communication device 232 or the wearablecontrol device 228, the control parameters may be sent to the centralcontrol device 230 for being stored in the gesture datastore.

The location in which the gesture may be applied may be defined in termsof distance from one or more control-target devices, an area in whichone or more control-target devices are located, or the distance from anarea in which the control-target devices are located. The identity ofthe control-target devices to which the gesture may be defined by a userselection of the control-target devices on the wireless communicationdevice 232 or the wearable control device 228. The identity of thecontrol-target devices to which the gesture may be applied may bedefined by performing a gesture on the wearable control device 228 thatidentifies the control-target devices. For example, the control-targetdevices may be identified based on a vector that is pointed from thewearable control device 228 to the control-target device. The vector maybe identified by the wearable control device 228 and transmitted to thecentral control device 230 for identifying the control-target devicesindicated by the vector. The control instructions for being sent to thecontrol-target devices may be defined by a user selection on thewireless communication device 232 or the wearable control device 228.For example, the user 222 may record a gesture for controlling thelighting control device 204 and may associate the gesture with controlinstructions for turning on the lamp 206, increasing the amount of powerprovided to the lamp 206 a predetermined amount, decreasing the amountof power provided to the lamp 206 a predetermined amount, or setting theintensity of the lamp 206 to a predetermined level. In another example,the user 222 may record a gesture for controlling the motorized windowtreatment 216 and may associate the gesture with control instructionsfor raising the covering material 218 by a predetermined amount,lowering the covering material by a predetermined amount, or setting theposition of the covering material 218 to a predetermined level. Therecorded gesture may be associated with similar control instructions forcontrolling the temperature control device 220, the plug-in controldevice 224, or another control-target device.

The central control device 230 may learn to automatically control one ormore control-target devices in the load control environment 202 based ongestures performed by the user 222. The central control device 230 mayidentify when the user 222 repeatedly performs (e.g., more than apredetermined number of times) a gesture in a location for controllingone or more identified control-target devices. The gesture may be apreprogrammed gesture that is associated with load control instructionsfor controlling an electrical load, such as the user 222 raising an armto increase the dimming intensity of the lamp 206 when the user 222enters the load control environment 202. The gesture may also, oralternatively, be a natural gesture performed by the user 222 to controlan electrical load, such as the user 222 actuating a raise button on awall-mounted dimmer (not shown) to increase the intensity level of thelamp 206 when the user 222 enters the load control environment 202.

The central control device 230 may store gestures performed by the user222 temporarily to determine whether to associate the gesture with acontrol-target device and/or control instructions. The central controldevice 230 may also store the location of the user 222 when the user 222performed the gesture and/or the time at which the gesture wasperformed. The central control device 230 may determine whether thestatus of an electrical load or a control-target device has changedwithin a predetermined period of time from the user performing thegesture. The central control device 230 may automatically send loadcontrol instructions for controlling one or more electrical loads basedon one or more gestures performed by the user 222 a predetermined numberof times, the time the one or more gestures were performed, the locationat which the one or more gestures were performed, and/or the change instatus of one or more electrical loads after the one or more gestureswere performed by the user 222.

The central control device 230 may determine to associate the gesturewith a control-target device and/or control instructions when thecentral control device 230 identifies the gesture being performedrepeatedly (e.g., more than a predetermined number of times) in the samelocation and/or at the same time of day or week. In an example, thecentral control device 230 may identify that the user 222 performs thesame gesture a predetermined number of times when the user 222 entersthe load control environment 202. The central control device 230 maydetect that the status of the lamp 206 is changed to turn on after theuser 222 performs the gesture. The gesture performed by the user 222 maybe a gesture that is associated with load control instructions forturning on the lamp 206, or the user 222 flipping a switch to turn onthe lamp 206, for example. After the central control device 230identifies that the gesture is performed the predetermined number oftimes, the central control device 230 may associate the gesture in thegesture datastore with the lighting control device 204 and controlinstructions for turning on the lamp 206, such that the lamp 206 may beautomatically turned on when the user 222 enters the load controlenvironment 202. The central control device 230 may similarly automatethe control of other control-target devices in the load controlenvironment 202.

The user 222 may indicate whether the user 222 likes or dislikes theautomated control of the control-target devices in the load controlenvironment 202. The user 222 may indicate whether the user 222 likes ordislikes the automated control of the control-target devices byactuating one or more buttons on the wireless communication device 232and/or the wearable control device 228. The user 222 may indicatewhether the user 222 likes or dislikes the automated control of thecontrol-target devices by performing one or more gestures that areidentifiable by the wearable control device 228. The actuation of theone or more buttons or the performance of one or more gestures by theuser 222 may cause transmission of a digital message to the centralcontrol device 230 that includes feedback that indicates whether theuser 222 likes or dislikes the automated control of the control-targetdevices.

The central control device 230 may expect to receive the feedbackindicating whether the user 222 likes or dislikes the automated controlof the control-target devices within a predetermined period of timeafter the automated control is implemented. If the user 222 does notprovide the feedback within the predetermined period of time, thecentral control device 230 may assume the user 222 likes the automatedcontrol.

The central control device 230 may have different learning strengths forlearning gestures performed by the user 222. For example, the user 222may be configured to set the central control device (e.g., via thewireless communication device 232 and/or the wearable control device228) to different levels of learning strength. The levels of learningstrength may range from weaker to stronger learning strength. As thelevels increase in strength of learning, the number of gestures that maybe stored within a period of time and/or the length of time for whichgestures are stored may be increased. The greater number of gesturesbeing stored and/or the greater length of time for which gestures arestored may enable more gestures to be performed by the user 222 andidentified as being performed a predetermined number of times.

The central control device 230 may recommend changes to the load controlinstructions associated with a gesture based on additional gesturesidentified by the central control device 230 and/or a change in statusof an electrical load or a control-target device. For example, the user222 may perform a gesture associated with control instructions forturning on the lamp 206. The central control device 230 may identifythat the user 222 changes the dimming level after the lamp 206 is turnedon. The change in dimming level may be detected by identifying a gestureassociated with control instructions for changing the dimming level or agesture by the user 222 to increase the dimming level on a wall-mounteddimmer switch. The central control device 230 may also, oralternatively, detect a change in the status of the dimming level of thelamp 206. The central control device 230 may recommend, via a display onthe wearable control device or the wireless communication device 232, achange in the load control instructions associated with the gestureperformed by the user 222 to turn on the lamp 206. The central controldevice 230 may recommend the gesture performed by the user 222 beassociated with turning on the lamp 206 to the adjusted dimming leveldetected by the central control device 230, for example. The suggestedchange may similarly be identified for controlling one or more othercontrol-target devices. The change may be selected after detectinggestures performed by the user 222 a predetermined number of times.

When the central control device 230 detects a change in the status of anelectrical load or control-target device (e.g., a single time or apredetermined number of times) and that there is not a gestureassociated with control instructions for performing the detected change,the central control device 230 may ask the user 222 (e.g., via a displayon the wearable control device 228 or the wireless communication device)whether the user 222 would like to record a gesture for performing thedetected change. For example, when the central control device 230detects a change in the status of an electrical load or control-targetdevice and that there is not a gesture associated with controlinstructions for performing the detected change, the user 222 mayperform a gesture and associate the gesture with control instructionsfor performing the detected change. The central control device 230 maybe configured to associate a natural gesture with the controlinstructions, may be configured to associate a unique gesture with thecontrol instructions, and/or may be configured to associate a previouslyassociated gesture with the control instructions.

A natural gesture may be a gesture that the user 222 may performnaturally. A natural gesture may be a gesture performed naturally by theuser 222 when changing the status of the electrical load. For example,the user 222 may perform the natural gesture of rotating, raising, orlowering an intensity adjustment actuator of a dimmer to control adimming intensity of the lamp 206, and this natural gesture of rotatingthe user's wrist, or raising or lowering an arm, may be associated withlighting control device 204 to adjust the dimming intensity of the lamp206. The central control device 230 may ask the user 222, afterperforming a natural gesture, whether to assign the gesture to a controlinstruction and/or an electrical load. The central control device 230may learn (e.g., automatically learn) the natural gesture and associatethe gesture with a control instruction and/or electrical load. Forexample, the central control device 230 may learn that each time thatthe user 222 sits on a couch and points a television remote control at atelevision, the user 222 also lowers the intensity of one or more lamps206 in the room. The central control device 230 may learn this gestureof the user 222, and the central control device 230 may associate theuser 222 pointing the television remote control at the television withlowering the intensity of one or more lamps 206 in the room.

The central control device 230 may be configured to control (e.g.,automatically control) the electrical loads in response to detecting apreprogrammed natural gesture. For example, the central control device230 may be configured to determine that the user 222 is moving quickly(e.g., by determining that the user's arms are swinging while moving)and may automatically turn lamp 206 on to full intensity. The centralcontrol device 230 may be configured to determine that a user has fallenasleep (e.g., by detecting a lack of movement of the user 222) and mayautomatically dim and/or turn off lamp 206. The central control device230 may be configured to determine that the user 222 is exercisingand/or performing a particular activity. The central control device 230may control the electrical load to a desired level, based on theexercise and/or the activity. For example, the central control device230 may be configured to determine an activity mode (e.g., a warm upmode, active mode, cool down mode, rest mode, etc.) associated with theexercise and/or activity and the central control device 230 may beconfigured to control the electric load accordingly (e.g., may set thelamp 206 to a desired level, based on the activity mode).

A unique gesture may be a gesture that the user 222 does not performnaturally. A unique gesture may be a gesture that a user does nottypically perform, such that the unique gesture may not be confused witha natural gesture and/or a previously associated gesture. For example, aunique gesture may include having the user 222 hold an arm at a rightangle. The gesture of holding an arm at a right angle may not be anatural gesture, and/or the gesture of holding an arm at a right anglemay not be a previously associated gesture. Because the unique gesturemay not be a natural gesture and/or a previously associated gesture, theunique gesture may not be confused with natural gestures and/orpreviously associated gestures. A unique gesture may be used forordinary changes to an electric load (e.g., dimming a light) and/or aunique gesture may be used for extreme changes to an electric load(e.g., actuating an emergency system, such as a fire alarm, a sprinklersystem, etc.).

Though functionality may be described herein as being performed by acertain device, other devices may be similarly configured, alone or incombination with other devices, to perform such functionality. Forexample, though one control device, such as the central control device230, the wearable control device 228, the wireless communication device232, or a control-target device may be described as performing certainfunctionality, one or more other control devices (e.g., the centralcontrol device 230, the wearable control device 228, the wirelesscommunication device 232, or a control-target device) may be configuredto perform similar functionality.

FIG. 3 is a simplified flow diagram depicting an example method 300 forperforming gesture-based control of one or more control devices using awearable control device. One or more portions of the method 300 may beperformed by a wearable control device, a central control device, awireless communication device, a control-target device, or anycombination thereof (e.g., the wearable control device 228, the centralcontrol device 230, and/or the wireless communication device 232 shownin FIG. 2). The method 300 may begin at 302. At 304, a user may beidentified using the wearable control device. For example, the wearablecontrol device may transmit digital messages to the central controldevice and/or the wireless communication device that include a uniqueidentifier. The digital messages including the unique identifier may betriggered by actuation of one or more buttons, one or more gesturesperformed by the user, and/or a determination of the location of theuser (e.g., via near field communication with an NFC device and/or via aGPS circuit).

The user may perform a gesture to control one or more electrical loadsin a load control environment. The gesture performed by the user may beidentified at 306 by the wearable control device. For example, thewearable control device may send a digital message to the wirelesscommunication device or the central control device that indicates theidentified gesture. At 308, a determination may be made as to whetherthe gesture indicates a scene. For example, the wireless communicationdevice or the central control device, upon receiving a digital messageindicating a gesture from the wearable wireless device, may determinewhether the gesture indicates a scene at 308. The gesture identified bythe wearable control device may be compared with one or morepreconfigured gestures, at 308, to determine whether the gesture isassociated with a preprogrammed scene configuration for the load controlenvironment in a datastore. If the gesture is associated with apreprogrammed scene at 308, control instructions for controlling theappropriate control-target devices may be determined at 310. Forexample, the wireless communication device or the central control devicemay identify the control-target devices for being controlled in thescene, as well as the control instructions for controlling thecontrol-target devices at 310. A unique identifier of the control-targetdevices and the control instructions associated with the scene may beretrieved from storage at the wireless communication device or thecentral control device. If, at 308, the gesture does not indicate ascene, the method 300 may determine whether other information beingindicated by the gesture.

At 312, a determination may be made as to whether the gesture indicatescontrol instructions. For example, the wireless communication device orthe central control device may determine whether the gesture indicatescontrol instructions at 312. The gesture identified by the wearablecontrol device may be compared with one or more preconfigured gestures,at 312, to determine whether the gesture is associated with controlinstructions in the datastore. If the gesture identifies controlinstructions at 312, the control instructions may be stored, at 314, forbeing sent in a digital message to one or more identified control-targetdevices. At 316, a determination may be made as to whether thecontrol-target device has been identified other than by the gestureidentified at 306. For example, the wireless communication device or thecentral control device may determine, at 316, whether the control-targetdevice has been identified other than by the gesture identified at 306.For example, the user may have identified the control-target device viaanother gesture previously performed by the user or by actuating one ormore buttons on the wireless communication device. If the control-targetdevice is identified other than by the gesture performed at 306, theidentity of the control-target device to which a digital message will besent may be stored at 322. For example, the wireless communicationdevice or the central control device may store the identity of thecontrol-target device for being sent in a digital message at 322. Theidentity of the control-target device may not be stored again at 322 ifthe identity of the control-target device has already been stored forbeing sent in a digital message (e.g., if the identity of thecontrol-target device was already stored as a result of previouslyidentified gesture or actuation on the wireless communication device).

If, at 312, it is determined that the identified gesture does notindicate control instructions or, at 316, the control-target device hasnot been identified other than by the gesture, a determination may bemade as to whether the gesture identified at 306 indicates the identityof one or more control-target devices at 318. For example, the wirelesscommunication device or the central control device may determine, at318, whether the gesture identified at 306 indicates the identity of oneor more control-target devices. The gesture identified by the wearablecontrol device may be compared with one or more preconfigured gestures,at 318, to determine whether the gesture is associated with one or morecontrol-target devices in the datastore. The identified gesture may beassociated with the unique identifier of one or more control-targetdevices, a device type, and/or a zone or location of control-targetdevices. If the identified gesture is associated with a device type, azone, and/or a location of the control-target devices for beingcontrolled, the wireless communication device or the central controldevice may determine the unique identifiers of the control-targetdevices in the control system having the identified device type, withinthe identified zone, and/or within the identified location. The gesturemay also, or alternatively, indicate a vector (e.g., indicated by thedirection of the user's arm or the direction that a user is facing orlooking) that points in a direction of one or more control devices inthe load control environment. The vector may be compared with a map ofthe load control environment to determine the identity of the one ormore control devices indicated by the vector. The identity of thecontrol-target devices may be stored at 322 for sending digital messagesto the identified control-target devices.

If the gesture identified at 306 does not indicate a scene at 308,control instructions at 312, or a control-target device at 318, adetermination may be made (e.g., by the wearable control device, thewireless communication device, and/or the central control device), at320, whether a predetermined threshold for identifying gesturesperformed by the user has elapsed. The predetermined threshold may be aperiod of time (e.g., a period of time without having an identifiedgesture at 306, a lack of movement identified by the wearable controldevice for the period of time, etc.), a number of identified gestures,or another predetermined threshold for stopping the identification ofgestures at 306. If the predetermined threshold has lapsed at 320, themethod 300 may end at 328. If the predetermined threshold has not lapsedat 320, the method 300 may return to 306 to identify another gestureperformed by the user or otherwise determine the control-target devicesto which digital messages may be transmitted.

When the control-target devices and the control instructions have beenidentified, appropriate digital messages may be generated at 324. Forexample, the wireless communication device or the central controldevice, at 324, may generate digital messages that include the controlinstructions for transmitting to the control-target devices. The digitalmessages may include the unique identifier of the control-targetdevices; or the digital messages may include an indirect identifier,such as a device type, a zone, or a location of the control-targetdevice, and the control-target device may determine whether to executethe control instructions based on the indirect identifier. The digitalmessages may be sent at 326. After sending the digital messages at 326,a determination may be made (e.g., by the wearable control device, thewireless communication device, and/or the central control device), at320, whether a predetermined threshold for identifying gesturesperformed by the user has elapsed. If the predetermined threshold haslapsed at 320, the method 300 may end at 328. If the predeterminedthreshold has not lapsed at 320, the method 300 may return to 306 toidentify another gesture performed by the user. While one or moreportions of the method 300 may be described as being performed by awearable control device, a central control device, or a wirelesscommunication device, the method 300 may be performed using any numberof devices.

FIG. 4 is a simplified flow diagram depicting an example method 400 forengaging and disengaging a wearable control device for identifyinggestures for controlling an electrical load. The method 400 may beperformed by a wearable control device, a central control device, awireless communication device, a control-target device, or anycombination thereof (e.g., the wearable control device 228, the centralcontrol device 230, and/or the wireless communication device 232 shownin FIG. 2). The method 400 may begin at 402. At 404, a determination maybe made as to whether the wearable control device is engaged. Forexample, the wearable control device 228, the central control device230, and/or the wireless communication device 232 may determine whetherthe wearable control device is engaged at 404. The wearable controldevice may detect an engage command from a user and may be engaged foridentifying gestures for controlling an electrical load. The wearablecontrol device may transmit a digital message to the central controldevice and/or the wireless communication device that indicates that thewearable control device is engaged. The digital message may also engagethe central control device and/or the wireless communication device forreceiving digital messages from the wearable control device forcontrolling an electrical load.

The wearable control device may be engaged by actuation of one or morebuttons on the wearable control device, actuation of one or more buttonson the wireless communication device, and/or an engage gesture performedvia the wearable control device. The engage gesture may be identifiedafter being performed for an established period of time, such as a threesecond period of time for example. The engage gesture may include one ormore gestures (e.g., a sequence of gestures) that may be unlikely to beperformed by a user by mistake. For example, the user may perform amovement that is unlikely to be performed by a user when the user is notengaging the wearable control device. In another example, the engagegesture may be performed for a longer period of time (e.g., 10-20seconds) than other gestures for controlling an electrical load or thatmay be likely to be performed naturally by the user.

The wearable control device may identify the user's arm being raised fora predetermined period of time to engage the wearable control device. Inanother example, the wearable control device may be engaged by changingthe orientation of the wearable control device (e.g., shaking thewearable control device) a predetermined number of times within a periodof time. When the wearable control device is a watch, or other armband,the wearable control device may be engaged by raising the wearablecontrol device upward and toward the user, as if to check the time orlook at a display on the armband. Such a gesture may be detected byidentifying the user raising the wearable control device, bringing thewearable control device toward the user, and changing the orientation ofthe wearable control device.

If the engage gesture is not identified at 404, the method 400 may endat 414. If the engage gesture is identified at 404, the method 400 maycontinue to identify a gesture for controlling an electrical load at406. The identification of the engage gesture at 404 may enable thewearable control device to identify the gesture at 406 and/or senddigital messages for controlling an electrical load. Without identifyingthe engage gesture, the wearable control device may be unable toidentify other gestures for load control. At 408, control-target devicesand/or the control instructions associated with an identified gesturemay be determined. The control-target devices and the controlinstructions may be a part of a scene indicated by the gesture. Thecontrol-target devices may be identified with separate gestures orotherwise identified from the gestures that identify the controlinstructions. The control instructions may be sent to the identifiedcontrol-target device at 410 for controlling an electrical load.

At 412, a determination may be made as to whether device the wearablecontrol device is disengaged. For example, the wearable control device228, the central control device 230, and/or the wireless communicationdevice 232 may determine whether the wearable control device isdisengaged at 412. The wearable control device may detect a disengagecommand from a user and may be disengaged from identifying gestures forcontrolling an electrical load. The wearable control device may transmita digital message to the central control device and/or the wirelesscommunication device that indicates that the wearable control device isdisengaged. The digital message may also disengage the central controldevice and/or the wireless communication device for receiving digitalmessages from the wearable control device for controlling an electricalload.

The wearable control device may be disengaged by actuation of one ormore buttons on the wearable control device, actuation of one or morebuttons on the wireless communication device, and/or a disengage gestureperformed via the wearable control device. The disengage gesture may beidentified after being performed for an established period of time, suchas a three second period of time for example. The disengage gesture mayinclude one or more gestures (e.g., a sequence of gestures) that may beunlikely to be performed by a user by mistake. For example, the user mayperform a movement that is unlikely to be performed by a user when theuser is not disengaging the wearable control device. In another example,the disengage gesture may be performed for a longer period of time(e.g., 10-20 seconds) than other gestures for controlling an electricalload or that may be likely to be performed naturally by the user. Theengage and disengage gesture may be the same or different gestures.

The wearable control device may identify the user's arm being loweredfor a predetermined period of time to disengage the wearable controldevice. In another example, the wearable control device may bedisengaged by changing the orientation of the wearable control device(e.g., shaking the wearable control device) a predetermined number oftimes within a period of time. The disengage gesture may cause thewearable control device to be unable to identify a gesture for loadcontrol until the engage gesture is identified. If the disengage gestureis identified at 412, the method may end at 414. If the disengagegesture is not identified at 412, the method 400 may continue toidentify load control gestures at 406. While one or more portions of themethod 400 may be described as being performed by a wearable controldevice, a central control device, or a wireless communication device,the method 400 may be performed using any number of devices.

FIGS. 5A-5E depict example gestures that may be identified forindicating a control-target device and/or control instructions forcontrolling an electrical load. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a wearablecontrol device 504 may identify a user 500 raising an arm 502 (e.g.,FIG. 5A) or lowering an arm 502 (e.g., FIG. 5B). The user 500 raisingthe arm 502 may be associated with load control instructions and/or acontrol device. For example, when the wearable control device 504identifies the user 500 raising the arm 502, a digital message may betransmitted to a control-target device instructing the control-targetdevice to increase an amount of power provided to the electrical load(e.g., turn on a lamp, increase the dimming level of the lamp, etc.).When the wearable control device 504 identifies the user 500 raising thearm 502, digital messages may also, or alternatively, be transmitted toa motorized window treatment for raising a covering material, atemperature control device for increasing the temperature in a room,and/or another control-target device for performing another associatedinstruction.

The user 500 lowering the arm 502 may be associated with load controlinstructions and/or a control device. For example, when the wearablecontrol device 504 identifies the user 500 lowering the arm 502, adigital message may be transmitted to a control-target deviceinstructing the control-target device to decrease an amount of powerprovided to the electrical load (e.g., turn off a lamp, decrease thedimming level of the lamp, etc.). When the wearable control device 504identifies the user lowering the arm 502, digital messages may also, oralternatively, be transmitted to a motorized window treatment forlowering a covering material, a temperature control device fordecreasing the temperature in a room, and/or another control-targetdevice for performing another associated instruction.

As shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D, a gesture may be identified when the user500 moves more than one part of the body. As shown in FIG. 5C, a firstwearable control device 504 may identify the user 500 raising a left arm502 and a second wearable control device 506 may identify the userraising a right arm 508. As shown in FIG. 5D, the first wearable controldevice 504 may identify the user 500 lowering the left arm 502 and thesecond wearable control device 506 may identify the user lowering theright arm 508. The gesture identified by the user raising or loweringthe arms 502, 508 may correspond to a single set of control instructionsand/or a control-target device for transmitting digital messages thatinclude the control instructions. In another example, differentfunctions may be performed by the user 500 performing a gesture witheach arm 502, 504. The user raising or lowering the left arm 502 mayidentify a control-target device and the user 500 raising or loweringthe right arm 508 may identify load control instructions for controllingthe control-target device (or vice versa).

When multiple wearable control devices 504, 506 are used to detect usergestures, the wearable control devices 504, 506 may be in communicationwith one another. For example, the first wearable control device 504 maybe a watch capable of wirelessly communicating with the second wearablecontrol device 506, which may be another type of armband. While multiplewearable control devices 504, 506 are illustrated in FIGS. 5C and 5D foridentifying when the user 500 moves more than one part of the body,multiple body movements may be detected using a single gesture controldevice (e.g., a shirt having sensors to detect different bodymovements).

The speed at which a gesture is performed may be identified by trackingthe speed of the wearable control device 504, 506. The speed at which agesture is performed may be used to indicate a control device or controlinstructions. The speed at which a gesture is performed may be used toindicate a speed at which an electrical load controlled by the controldevice may be controlled. For example, the speed at which the wearablecontrol device 504, 506 is raised or lowered may indicate a respectivespeed for raising or lowing the position of the covering materialcontrolled by the motorized window treatment or for increasing ordecreasing the dimming level of a lamp.

The speed indicated in the control instructions may be based on thespeed at which the wearable control device 504, 506 moves, taking intoconsideration the operation speed of the device being controlled. Thespeed indicated in the control instructions may be the same speed atwhich the wearable control device 504, 506 moves or otherwise determinedfrom the speed at which the wearable control device 504, 506 moves. Forexample, the speed at which the wearable control device 504, 506 movesmay be a percentage of the speed indicated in the control instructionsor the speed indicated in the control instructions may be a percentageof the speed at which the wearable control device 504, 506 moves.

The distance over which a gesture is performed may be identified. Thedistance may be identified by tracking the distance over which thewearable control device 504, 506 moves. The distance over which agesture is performed may be used to indicate a control device or controlinstructions. The distance over which a gesture is performed may be usedto indicate a distance or range over which a device controlled by thecontrol-target device may be instructed to change. For example, thedistance that the wearable control device 504, 506 is raised or loweredmay be identified and the control instructions sent to an identifiedmotorized window treatment may indicate a distance for raising theposition of the covering material controlled by the motorized windowtreatment. In another example, the distance over which the wearablecontrol device 504, 506 is raised or lowered may be identified and thecontrol instructions sent to an identified lighting control device mayindicate a range for increasing or decreasing the dimming level of alamp controlled by lighting control device. The distance indicated inthe control instructions may be otherwise determined from the distanceover which the wearable control device 504, 506 may move. For example,the distance over which the wearable control device 504, 506 moves maybe a percentage of the distance indicated in the control instructions orthe distance indicated in the control instructions may be a percentageof the distance over which the wearable control device 504, 506 moves.

One or more of the gestures in FIGS. 5A-5D may be used to engage thewearable control device 504, 506, disengage the wearable control device504, 506, or send a digital message for controlling an electrical load.The digital messages may be sent to one or more control-target devicesto control the devices according to an established scene. Other gesturesmay also be used to transmit digital messages for controlling one ormore electric loads (e.g., according to an established scene). Forexample, the user 500 may perform a goodbye wave when leaving a loadcontrol environment (e.g., such as a home or office) to transmit digitalmessages for controlling one or more electric loads according to an awayscene. The goodbye wave may be a wave of either arm 502, 508 from sideto side (e.g., left and right). The user 500 may perform another gesturewhen arriving at the load control environment (e.g., such as the home oroffice) to transmit digital messages for controlling one or moreelectric loads according to a home scene. For example, the user mayperform the same wave as the goodbye wave or may perform a hello wave bymoving either arm 502, 508 up and down, instead of side to side. Thelocation of the user 500 may be paired with the wave to determinewhether the user is leaving or arriving.

FIG. 5E shows an example of a sleep gesture for entering a bedtimescene. The sleep gesture may be identified by the location of one orboth of the arms 502, 508 of the user 500. For example, after one of thewearable control devices 504, 506 measures the angle of the respectivearm 502, 508, the angle of the arm 502, 508 may be compared against thepredefined angle for activating the bedtime mode. When the user hasmultiple wearable control devices 504, 506, the proximity between thedevices 504, 506 may be used to select the bedtime scene. For example,the proximity between the devices 504, 506 may be determined based onthe signal strength of communications between the devices. When thewearable control devices 504, 506 are within a predetermined proximity,the bedtime mode may be activated.

A wakeup scene may be implemented when the user 500 wakes up or in orderto help wake up the user 500. For example, the wakeup scene to turn onone or more lamps and set the lamps to a predetermined dimming level,increase or decrease the temperature on the temperature in a loadcontrol environment, and/or raise the covering material of a motorizedwindow treatment to a predetermined level. The wakeup scene may also, oralternatively, turn on music (e.g., on a wireless communication deviceor other music device) or turn on a television at a predetermined volumelevel. The user 500 may perform a snooze gesture to implement the wakeupscene or delay the wakeup scene by a predetermined period of time. Thesnooze gesture may be identified by the user 500 moving one of the arms502, 508 up and down, as if to hit a snooze button on a clock forexample.

A movie scene may be activated with the user 500 points the wearablecontrol device 504, 506 at the location of the television and/orgestures to turn on the television using a remote control. The locationof the television may be identified by a vector that points in thedirection of the television from the wearable control device 504, 506when the user 500 extends an arm 502, 508. The movement of the user500's thumb may be detected if the user 500 is wearing a ring based onthe movement of the ring up and down to indicate a user selection of abutton on a remote control. The movement of the user 500's thumb may besimilarly detected by the wearable control device 504, 506, as thearmband may detect movement of the thumb of the user 500 up and down.

FIG. 6 is a simplified flow diagram depicting an example method 600 forassociating a gesture with a control-target device and/or controlinstructions. The method 600 may be performed by a wearable controldevice, a central control device, a wireless communication device, acontrol-target device, or any combination thereof (e.g., the wearablecontrol device 228, the central control device 230, and/or the wirelesscommunication device 232 shown in FIG. 2). The method 600 may begin at602. A programming mode may be entered, at 604, by the wearable controldevice and/or the central control device. The programming mode may beentered upon the identification of a programming gesture and/oractuation of one or more buttons on the wearable control device. Theprogramming mode may also, or alternatively, be entered upon actuationof one or more buttons on the wireless communication device.Identification of the programming gesture may enable the central controldevice, the wireless communication device, and/or the wearable controldevice to store programming instructions for controlling an electricalload. For example, the programming gesture may enable association of oneor more gestures with a control-target device and/or controlinstructions in the gesture datastore. The programming gesture mayinclude one or more gestures (e.g., a sequence of gestures) that may beunlikely to be performed by a user by mistake. For example, the user mayperform a movement that is unlikely to be performed by a user when theuser is not programming the wearable control device. The programminggesture may be performed for a longer period of time (e.g., 10-20seconds) than other gestures may be performed, such as gestures that maybe recognized by the wearable control device for load control or thatmay be likely to be performed naturally by the user.

At 606, a control-target device may be identified for being associatedwith a gesture. The control-target device may be identified by agesture. For example, the user may point the wearable control device inthe direction of the control-target device to be controlled. A vectorfrom the wearable control device may be compared against a map of theroom (e.g., at the central control device) to determine thecontrol-target device selected by the user. When the wearable controldevice is an armband, the user may change the orientation of the user'swrist a number of times to select different control-target devices,different types of control-target devices in a location (e.g., livingroom lights, kitchen lights, etc.) or different locations. One or morecontrol-target devices may be associated with each change inorientation. The user may also, or alternatively, perform a gesture thatis currently associated with a control-target device to change thegesture that is currently associated with the control-target device toanother gesture. The control-target device may also, or alternatively,be selected by an actuation on the wireless communication device,actuation of a button on the wearable control device, or by the userspeaking the name of the control-target device or electrical load to becontrolled. The name of the control-target device or electrical load maybe recorded by the wireless communication device and/or the wearablecontrol device and sent to the central control device foridentification. One or more control devices may be identified at 606.

Control instructions may be identified at 608 for being associated witha gesture for performing load control. The control instructions may beidentified by a gesture. For example, the user may perform a gesturethat is currently associated with control instructions for controlling acontrol target device in order to change the gesture that is currentlyassociated with the control instructions to another gesture. The gesturethat identifies the control instructions may be the same gesture thatidentifies the control-target device (e.g., gesture associated with ascene). The control instructions may also, or alternatively, be selectedby an actuation on the wireless communication device, actuation of abutton on the wearable control device, or by the user speaking thecontrol instructions for how to control the identified control-targetdevice. One or more sets of control instructions may be identified at608.

The user may associate a gesture, at 610, with the identifiedcontrol-target device and/or the identified control instructions. Thegesture may be recorded by the wearable control device for beingassociated with the identified control-target device and/or theidentified control instructions. The recorded gesture may be associatedwith the identified control-target device and/or the identified controlinstructions and stored at the wearable control device. The recordedgesture may also, or alternatively, be sent to the central controldevice and/or the wireless communication device for being associatedwith the identified control-target device and/or the identified controlinstructions. The association may be stored in the gesture datastore forcontrolling one or more control-target devices using the identifiedgesture.

The gesture may also, or alternatively, be selected by an actuation onthe wearable control device or the wireless communication device. Forexample, the central control device may recognize that a number of usersare controlling the identified control-target device using a certaingesture. The central control device may send a digital message to thewearable control device or the wireless communication device to suggestto the user the gesture to associate with the identified control-targetdevice and/or identified control instructions based on the gesture beingused by other users. The user may select the suggested gesture for beingapplied to the user's control of the identified control-target device.The user may also apply the suggested gesture to other users' control ofthe identified control-target device. For example, where the user is abuilding administrator, the user may program the gestures forcontrolling the identified control-target devices based on the morepopular gestures being used in the building, or a portion of thebuilding. The method 600 may end at 612.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram depicting an example wearable control device700 for performing load control (e.g., the wearable control device 228shown in FIG. 2 or the wearable control devices 504, 506 shown in FIGS.5A-5E). As shown in FIG. 7, the wearable control device 700 may includea control circuit 704 for controlling the functionality of the wearablecontrol device 700. The control circuit 704 may include one or moregeneral purpose processors, special purpose processors, conventionalprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), microprocessors,integrated circuits, a programmable logic device (PLD), applicationspecific integrated circuits (ASICs), or the like. The control circuit704 may perform signal coding, data processing, power control,input/output processing, or any other functionality that enables thewearable control device 700 to perform as described herein.

The control circuit 704 may store information in and/or retrieveinformation from the memory 706. The memory 706 may include anon-removable memory and/or a removable memory. The non-removable memorymay include random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), a harddisk, or any other type of non-removable memory storage. The removablememory may include a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, a memorystick, a memory card, or any other type of removable memory.

The wearable control device 700 may communicate with other devices via acommunication circuit 702. The wearable control device 700 may includeone or more communication circuits 702 for communicating with differentdevices on different protocols and/or frequencies. For example, thecommunication circuits 702 may include a communication circuitconfigured to communicate with a central control device on a protocol orfrequency and another communication circuit configured to communicatewith a wireless communication device on another protocol or frequency.

The communication circuits 702 may be capable of performing wired and/orwireless communications. The communication circuits 702 may include atransmitter, receiver, and/or a transceiver. For example, thecommunication circuits 702 may include an RF transceiver fortransmitting and receiving RF signals via an antenna or othercommunications module capable of performing wireless communications. Thecommunication circuits 702 may be in communication with the controlcircuit 704. The communication circuits 702 may be capable of performingcommunications via different communication channels (e.g., communicationprotocols, communication frequencies, etc.). For example, thecommunication circuits 702 may be capable of communicating via WI-FI®,WIMAX®, BLUETOOTH®, near field communication (NFC), a proprietarycommunication protocol, such as CLEAR CONNECT™, ZIGBEE®, Z-WAVE, or thelike. The communication circuits 702 may comprise an RF transmitter fortransmitting RF signals, an RF receiver for receiving RF signals, an IRtransmitter for transmitting IR signals, or an IR receiver for receivingIR signals.

The control circuit 704 may be in communication with an indicator light712. The indicator light 712 may turn on and/or off to provideindications to a user, such as whether the wearable control device 700is on or off, whether a gesture has been identified, whether thewearable control device 700 has been enabled or disabled, whether thewearable control device 700 is in a programming mode, or the like. Thecontrol circuit 704 may receive audio data via one or more microphones(not shown) for capturing audio and may store the audio data in memory706.

The control circuit 704 may be in communication with a display 710(e.g., a visual display, such as an LED display) for providinginformation to a user. The display 710 and the control circuit 704 maybe in two-way communication, as the display 704 may include a touchscreen module capable of receiving information from a user and providingsuch information to the control circuit 704.

The wearable control device 700 may include another input source 708from which user inputs may be received at the control circuit 704. Theinput source 708 may include a keyboard or other buttons from which userinputs may be received. The input source 708 may include a biometricsensor. The biometric sensor may include, for example, a fingerprintscanner, an eye scanner, and a heart rate monitor capable of identifyingheart rate information for a user. The input source may include a camerafrom which images may be received at the control circuit 704.

The wearable control device 700 may include one or more positiondetermining circuits 714. The position determining circuit 714 may becapable of determining the position and/or movement of the wearablecontrol device 700. Position determining circuit 714 may include aglobal positioning system (GPS) circuit, a gyroscope, and/or anaccelerometer. The GPS circuit may be capable of receiving GPSinformation. The control circuit 704 may be capable of determining theGPS coordinates of the wearable control device 700 based on the GPSinformation received via the GPS circuit. The gyroscope may identify anorientation of the wearable control device 700. For example, the controlcircuit 704 may be capable of determining the orientation of thewearable control device 700 based on the orientation informationreceived via the gyroscope. The accelerometer may identify anacceleration of the wearable control device 700. The accelerometer maybe used (e.g., used by the control circuit 704) to detect magnitudeand/or direction of the acceleration of the wearable control device 700,such as in the form of a vector, an orientation of the wearable controldevice 700, and/or vibrations of the wearable control device 700.

Each of the modules of the wearable control device 700 may be powered bya power source 716. The power source 716 may include, for example, DCpower source, such as a battery. The power source 716 may generate asupply voltage Vcc for powering the modules of the wearable controldevice 700.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram depicting an example central control device800 (e.g., the central control device 230 shown in FIG. 2). As shown inFIG. 8, the central control device 800 may include a control circuit 804for controlling the functionality of the central control device 800. Thecontrol circuit 804 may include one or more general purpose processors,special purpose processors, conventional processors, digital signalprocessors (DSPs), microprocessors, integrated circuits, a programmablelogic device (PLD), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), orthe like. The control circuit 804 may perform signal coding, dataprocessing, image processing, power control, input/output processing, orany other functionality that enables the central control device 800 toperform as described herein.

The control circuit 804 may store information in and/or retrieveinformation from the memory 802. The memory 802 may include anon-removable memory and/or a removable memory. The non-removable memorymay include random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), a harddisk, or any other type of non-removable memory storage. The removablememory may include a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, a memorystick, a memory card, or any other type of removable memory.

The central control device 800 may communicate with other devices via acommunication circuit 806. The central control device 800 may includeone or more communication circuits. For example, one communicationcircuit may communicate with a wearable control device and onecommunication circuit may communicate with a wireless communicationdevice. The communication circuit 806 may be capable of performing wiredand/or wireless communications. The communication circuit 806 mayinclude a transmitter, a receiver, and/or a transceiver. For example,the communication circuit 806 may include an RF transceiver fortransmitting and receiving RF signals via an antenna, or othercommunications module capable of performing wireless communications. Thecommunication circuit 806 may be in communication with controller 804.The communication circuit 806 may be capable of performingcommunications via different communication channels. For example, thecommunication circuit 904 may be capable of communicating via WI-FI®,WIMAX®, BLUETOOTH®, near field communication (NFC), a proprietarycommunication protocol, such as CLEAR CONNECT™, ZIGBEE®, Z-WAVE, or thelike.

Each of the modules of the central control device 800 may be powered bya power source 808. The power source 808 may include, for example, an ACpower source or a DC power source, such as a battery. The power source808 may generate a supply voltage Vcc for powering the modules of thecentral control device 800.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram depicting an example control-target device900. The control-target device 900 may include a dimmer switch, anelectronic switch, an electronic ballast for controlling fluorescentlamps, a light-emitting diode (LED) driver for controlling LED lightsources, a plug-in control device (e.g., a switching device), athermostat, a motorized window treatment, or other control-target devicefor controlling an electrical load 914. The control-target device 900may include a control circuit 902 for controlling the functionality ofthe control-target device 900. The control circuit 902 may include oneor more general purpose processors, special purpose processors,conventional processors, digital signal processors (DSPs),microprocessors, integrated circuits, a programmable logic device (PLD),application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or the like. Thecontrol circuit 902 may perform signal coding, data processing, imageprocessing, power control, input/output processing, or any otherfunctionality that enables the control-target device 900 to perform asdescribed herein.

The control-target device 900 may communicate with other devices via thecommunication circuit 904. The communication circuit 904 may be incommunication with controller 902. The communication circuit 904 maybecapable of performing wired and/or wireless communications. Thecommunication circuit 904 may include an RF transceiver for transmittingand receiving RF signals via an antenna, or other communications modulecapable of performing wired and/or wireless communications. For example,the communication circuit 904 may be capable of communicating viaWI-FI®, WIMAX®, BLUETOOTH®, near field communication (NFC), aproprietary communication protocol, such as CLEAR CONNECT®, ZIGBEE®,Z-WAVE, or the like.

The control circuit 902 may store information in and/or retrieveinformation from the memory 906. The memory 906 may include anon-removable memory and/or a removable memory. A load control circuit908 may receive instructions from the control circuit 902 and maycontrol the electrical load 914 (e.g., by controlling the amount ofpower provided to the load) based on the received instructions. The loadcontrol circuit 908 may receive power via a hot connection 910 and aneutral connection 912. While the control-target device 900 includesfour terminals as shown in FIG. 9, the control-target device 900 mayinclude one load terminal connected to the electrical load 914, whichmay be connected in series between the control-target device 900 and aneutral of the AC power source supplying power to the hot connection 910and the neutral connection 912. In other words, the control-targetdevice 900 may be a “three-wire” device. The control-target device 900may have one connection to the AC power source (e.g., hot connection910) and may not comprise a connection to the neutral of the AC powersource (e.g., may not comprise neutral connection 912). In other words,the control-target device 900 may be a “two-wire” device. The electricalload 914 may include any type of electrical load.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example wirelesscommunication device 1000 (e.g., the wireless communication device 232shown in FIG. 2). The wireless communication device 1000 may include acontrol circuit 1002 for controlling the functionality of the wirelesscommunication device 1000. The control circuit 1002 may include one ormore general purpose processors, special purpose processors,conventional processors, digital signal processors (DSPs),microprocessors, integrated circuits, a programmable logic device (PLD),application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or the like. Thecontrol circuit 1002 may perform signal coding, data processing, powercontrol, input/output processing, or any other functionality thatenables the wireless communication device 1000 to perform as describedherein.

The control circuit 1002 may store information in and/or retrieveinformation from a memory 1006. The memory 1006 may include anon-removable memory and/or a removable memory. The non-removable memorymay include random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), a harddisk, or any other type of non-removable memory storage. The removablememory may include a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, a memorystick, a memory card, or any other type of removable memory.

The wireless communication device 1000 may include one or morecommunication circuits 1010 for transmitting and/or receivinginformation from other devices. For example, the communication circuits1010 may include a communication circuit configured to communicate witha central control device on a protocol or frequency and anothercommunication circuit configured to communicate with a wirelesscommunication device on another protocol or frequency. The communicationcircuits 1010 may perform wireless or wired communications.Communication circuits 1010 may be in communication with control circuit1002 for transmitting and/or receiving information. The communicationcircuits 1010 may include a transmitter, receiver, and/or a transceiver.For example, the communication circuits 1010 may include an RFtransceiver for transmitting and receiving RF signals via an antenna, orother communications module capable of performing wired and/or wirelesscommunications. For example, the communication circuits 1010 may becapable of communicating via WI-FI®, WIMAX®, BLUETOOTH®, cellularcommunication, near field communication (NFC), a proprietarycommunication protocol, such as CLEAR CONNECT™, ZIGBEE®, Z-WAVE, or thelike.

The control circuit 1002 may be in communication with a display 1008(e.g., a visual display, such as an LED display) for providinginformation to a user. The display 1008 and the control circuit 1002 maybe in two-way communication, as the display 1008 may include a touchscreen module capable of receiving information from a user and providingsuch information to the control circuit 1002. The wireless communicationdevice 1000 may include another input source 1004, such as a keyboard orother buttons, from which user inputs may be received at the controlcircuit 1002.

The wireless communication device 1000 may include one or more positiondetermining circuits 1014. The position determining circuit 1014 may becapable of determining the position and/or movement of the wirelesscommunication device 1000. Position determining circuit 1014 may includea global positioning system (GPS) circuit, a gyroscope, and/or anaccelerometer. The GPS circuit may be capable of receiving GPSinformation. The control circuit 1002 may be capable of determining theGPS coordinates of the wireless communication device 1000 based on theGPS information received via the GPS circuit. The gyroscope may identifyan orientation of the wireless communication device 1000. For example,the control circuit 1002 may be capable of determining the orientationof the wireless communication device 1000 based on the orientationinformation received via the gyroscope. The accelerometer may identifyan acceleration of the wireless communication device 1000. Theaccelerometer may be used (e.g., used by the control circuit 1002) todetect magnitude and/or direction of the acceleration of the wirelesscommunication device 1000, such as in the form of a vector, anorientation of the wireless communication device 1000, and/or vibrationsof the wireless communication device 1000.

Each of the modules of the wireless communication device 1000 may bepowered by a power source 1012. The power source 1012 may include an ACpower supply or DC power supply, for example. The power source 1012 maygenerate a supply voltage Vcc for powering the modules within thewireless communication device 1000.

Although features and elements are described above in particularcombinations, each feature or element can be used alone or in anycombination with the other features and elements. The methods describedherein may be implemented in a computer program, software, or firmwareincorporated in a computer-readable medium for execution by a computeror processor. Examples of computer-readable media include electronicsignals (transmitted over wired or wireless connections) andcomputer-readable storage media. Examples of computer-readable storagemedia include, but are not limited to, a read only memory (ROM), arandom access memory (RAM), removable disks, and optical media such asCD-ROM disks, and digital versatile disks (DVDs).

1. A control device for controlling an electrical load via acontrol-target device, the control device comprising: a communicationcircuit; and a control circuit configured to: receive, via thecommunication circuit, data indicative of a gesture performed by a uservia a wearable control device; identify the control-target device;identify, based on the data indicative of the gesture performed by theuser via the wearable control device, control instructions for causingthe control-target device to control the electrical load; and send thecontrol instructions to the control-target device for controlling theelectrical load.